The Open Boat is a short story written by Stephen Crane, first published in 1897. The story is based on Crane's own experiences as a passenger on the SS Commodore, which ran aground off the coast of Florida in January of that year. Crane was one of the few survivors of the shipwreck, and he used his experiences to write this powerful and poignant tale of survival against all odds.
The Open Boat follows the journey of four men who are stranded in a small dinghy after their ship sinks. The men are the captain, a cook, a correspondent (presumably Crane himself), and an oiler. As they drift in the open sea, they face numerous challenges, including the threat of sharks, the scorching sun, and their own limited resources.
Despite these challenges, the men remain determined to survive. They use their limited supplies wisely, rationing the water and food that they have, and working together to keep the boat afloat. They also take turns rowing and bailing out the water that constantly threatens to swamp their small vessel.
As they drift further and further from land, their chances of survival seem to grow increasingly slim. Yet they remain hopeful, determined to find a way to reach the shore and safety. In the end, their perseverance pays off, and they are rescued by a passing steamer.
The Open Boat is a poignant and powerful tale that speaks to the indomitable human spirit. It is a testament to the strength of the human will to survive, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is also a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment that we have.
Overall, The Open Boat is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers to this day. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys literature that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving.
The Open Boat
The oiler and the correspondent continue to take turns rowing. The correspondent, as he rowed, looked down at the two men sleeping under-foot. A bath-towel was by some weird chance in the boat, and, tying this on the stick, the captain waved it. It seems that instantly the beach was populated with men with blankets, clothes, and flasks, and women with coffeepots and all the remedies sacred to their minds. The man felt it would be a crime most unnatural. There were no hurried words, no pallor, no plain agitation. Then somebody in gloom spoke.
Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat”: Summary & Analysis
Articles such as "The Wreck of the New Era", which describes a group of castaways drowning in sight of a helpless crowd, and "Ghosts on the Jersey Coast" contain stark imagery that strongly prefigures that of "The Open Boat". The book was first published in 1897 and the latest edition of the book was published in June 1st 1982 which eliminates all the known issues and printing errors. It was probably glorious, this play of the free sea, wild with lights of emerald and white and amber. A changed tide tried to force them southward, but the wind and wave said northward. What do you suppose they are doing with an omnibus? Everybody took a drink of water. One came, and evidently decided to alight on the top of the captain's head. A seat in this boat was not unlike a seat upon a bucking broncho, and, by the same token, a broncho is not much smaller.
The Open Boat by Stephen Crane Plot Summary
They curled down and, after a few preliminary chatterings and trembles, slept once more the dead sleep. Occasionally, a great spread of water, like white flames, swarmed into her. The wind slowly died away. She seemed just a wee thing wallowing, miraculously top-up, at the mercy of five oceans. We are so small. The correspondent looked over his shoulder at the captain. After two days of rowing the men are exhausted.
The Open Boat
As darkness settled finally, the shine of the light, lifting from the sea in the south, changed to full gold. He died at age 28 in Badenweiler, Baden, Germany. Cosmic irony is the belief that the universe is so large and man is so small that the universe is indifferent to the plight of man. I feel like soaking him one, just for luck. Sometimes, despite the efforts of the tired oarsman, a wave came piling into the boat, an icy wave of the night, and the chilling water soaked them anew. Neither knew they had bequeathed to the cook the company of another shark, or perhaps the same shark.
